QUEBEC.
7. Montreal.—In 1863 (Rep. Geol. Surv. Canada, p. 919), W. E. Logan announced the finding of some bones of a whale at the Mile-End quarries, Montreal, on a slight ridge, “where are found stratified sand and gravel holding boulders and shells in the lower part.” In corresponding clays in a neighboring brickyard was found a pelvis of a seal, Phoca grœndlandica. In 1895 (Canad. Rec. Sci., vol. VI, p. 351), Dr. J. W. Dawson reported the discovery of a nearly complete skeleton of another white whale at Montreal. This was found in brick clay, near Papineau Road. The locality is said by Dawson to be about 100 feet above the St. Lawrence; the bones were in the clay at a depth of 22 feet. The clay itself was probably deposited at a depth of 50 to 80 fathoms. This is said by Dawson to correspond approximately with a well-marked shore-line at Montreal, found at a height of about 470 feet above the sea and with the old sea-beach at Smith’s Falls as related on page [17]. In 1916, Mr. Edward Ardley, assistant curator of Redpath Museum, reported (Canad. Rec. Sci., vol. IX, pp. 490–493) the discovery of a large part of the skeleton of a white whale, supposed to belong to Delphinapterus leucas, at Montreal East. The skeleton was buried in Leda clay about 15 feet above St. Lawrence River. It was 10.5 feet long. The cranium and lower jaw were secured, besides parts of the trunk and limbs.
8. Rivière du Loup, Temiscouata County.—In his work, “Canadian Ice Age,” 1894, on page 268, Dr. J. W. Dawson reported that bones of Beluga catodon (Delphinapterus leucas) had been found at the place mentioned. It is not probable that parts sufficient for making a definite determination were secured, nor did Dawson give any details regarding the geological conditions connected with the discovery. Doubtless the remains were found in marine deposits of one of the terraces.
9. Metis, Rimouski County.—In the work just cited (p. [269]), Dawson stated that in the summer of 1891 he secured a large jawbone of a whale which had been found in digging a cellar in the shelly marl of the lower terrace at Metis. He did not identify the species, but appears to imply that it belonged to either the “humpback” (Megaptera boöps) or to one of the finner whales (Balænoptera).